Our Team

Erin Melbourne BSW (Hons.), B.Ed, OCT, SSW

I am the founder of Reading Ready and an Ontario Certified Teacher. I started my professional career as a social worker. My focus has always been on making a difference in the lives of children and youth. I’ve gained valuable insight over the years from working in an Educational Centre for children with Autism, a Youth Services Centre, a group home, and a Crisis Public Outreach Centre. In Teacher’s College I focused on the Primary Junior stream and then returned for my Intermediate qualifications. I am Orton-Gillingham trained and have spent many years teaching children from kindergarten to grade 12 with various learning challenges and behavioural needs. Since becoming a teacher in 2012, Special Education, Literacy and Family Studies have been my focus. I teach from a Strengths-based practice and my approach is direct, intentional, and enthusiastic.

I am a mother of three and have experience from a parental perspective of what comes with being a parent of a child diagnosed with a Learning Disability. Reading Ready was created with the intention to help your child, in a one-on-one setting, develop effective literacy strategies that are sometimes difficult to attain in a classroom setting.

We’d like to be part of your team, helping your child achieve the needed reading skills to succeed!

Catherine Oakley, B.A., B.Ed., OCT (retired)
Special Education, Specialist
English as a Second Language, Specialist

Reading Ready Consultant

I started my career in education in the Vancouver and Toronto public school systems. It quickly became apparent to me that the needs of students in a typical classroom environment were very diverse. I wanted to make a difference to every student so I began taking courses in special education and English as a second language.

I had two critical realizations; pupil teacher ratio clearly impacted the outcome of instruction and the current whims of curriculum did not address the needs of all children. My frustration was guiding me to find a place where I could teach not just curriculum but children as individuals with individual needs! I joined a newly started private school, Tutorial and Educational Assistance in Mississauga (TEAM) which was geared to individualized instruction for students in small group settings. It proved to be a very successful approach for the challenges faced by the students we worked with.

Upon a move to Ottawa, I was hired by the public school system for my special education background. Literacy was my priority. It was always a joy to watch students' confidence and self-esteem grow as they began to see themselves as readers. I was a school resource teacher for several years and then was hired to the role of Learning Support Consultant with the Ottawa Carleton District School Board (OCDSB). Although this position reduced my direct student contact, it also gave me the opportunity to support special education teachers and the LD Program teachers across the Board.

Although I am retired, my passion continues to support the teaching of reading. I work on a consultative basis with Reading Ready. I have seen great success with the students who have attended this program. Parents can be confident that rapport will be caringly established with their child.